Love Manicures & Pedicures? Your Cuticles Might Disagree.

A fresh manicure or pedicure can make your nails look clean, polished, and well-groomed. But there’s one common step during many nail appointments that dermatologists often advise against cutting the cuticles.

While trimmed cuticles may give the nails a neater appearance, they actually serve an important purpose.

What Are Cuticles?

The cuticle is a thin layer of skin at the base of your nail.

It acts as a protective seal between the nail plate and the surrounding skin, preventing bacteria, fungi, and other germs from entering the area where your nail grows.

Think of it as your nail’s natural barrier.

Why Cutting Cuticles Isn't Recommended

When cuticles are aggressively cut or removed, this protective barrier is broken.

This can increase the risk of:

• Bacterial infections
• Fungal infections
• Painful inflammation around the nail (paronychia)
• Redness and swelling

Repeated trauma can also affect the health of the nail as it grows.

But My Nail Technician Always Cuts Them…

Cutting cuticles has become a routine part of many manicures and pedicures because it creates a cleaner-looking nail.

However, healthy cuticles don’t need to be removed.

Instead, they can be gently softened and pushed back after soaking or using a cuticle remover. This gives a neat appearance while preserving their protective function.

Should You Ever Cut a Cuticle?

In most cases, no.

Only loose pieces of dead skin or a hangnail may be carefully trimmed if they’re catching on clothing or causing discomfort.

The healthy cuticle itself should be left intact.

How to Keep Your Cuticles Healthy

Moisturise your cuticles regularly, especially after washing your hands.

Wear gloves while washing dishes or using cleaning products to reduce dryness and irritation.

Avoid picking or biting your cuticles.

Be gentle when pushing them back, never force them.

What If You Already Have Redness or Swelling Around the Nail?

If you notice:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Pus
• Persistent redness

you may have developed an infection around the nail, and it’s best to consult a dermatologist rather than trying home remedies.

The Bottom Line

A neat manicure doesn’t require cutting your cuticles.

Keeping them healthy helps protect your nails from infections and supports normal nail growth.

The next time you’re at the salon, don’t hesitate to ask your nail technician to gently push back your cuticles instead of cutting them. Your nails will still look beautiful and they’ll be healthier too.